How to select good shrimp feed? By physical evaluation....

Hello everyone:

         Nowadays different feed companies originated and different feeds available at different prices. All companies said that, our feed is good for inatake and survival and gives good results like this... But farmers got confused for the selection of feed. 

What farmers do?

         Usually some farmers get connect with each other. If one farmer tell that , this feed is good for culture, you can try this. Then automatically other farmer also bought this.. like this happening on many places.

Where the confusion starts?

        Many graduates are doing farming. Those graduates select by protein percent in the feed. The graduated farmers thinks that, all companies vannamei feed have same protein percent, same lipid percent but how the growth varies from company to company....

        All are knows that, all companies formulated the feed as per the nutritional requirements of vannamei.

How the good quality feed produced?

       It is fully depends on the feed processing methods and depends on the selection of ingredients. If I want 36% protein means, you can use two ingredients, three ingredients or four ingredients to make that 36% of the total protein.

      The quality depends on the selection and status of the raw materials. The storage of raw material is very very important. Improper storage of raw materials will leads to loss of nutrition present in that raw material. Ok it is a another huge topic. Now we will see some of the physical evaluation method for feed.

      If you try new brand feed, then you can physically evaluate your feed and going for selection.

* First visually observe the feed size. You must observe all the pellets are in same size and structure.

* Make sure your feed don't have any spots on the middle or corner? If present means, it refers to the improper mixing of the ingredients.

* Smell the feed , whether it is fresh smell or any oiled smell? If any bad or oiled smell means it also refers to improper use of ingredients.

* Make sure your pellets are not attached with one another.

* Take one bag of feed, put your hand towards inside of the feed bag and remove. If you feel , heavy ingredient dust presents in your hand, then it also not a good quality feed.

* Clearly observe the surface of the feed for the presence of any fungi.

* Water stability of feed is Very important.

       Take a glass beaker and put your feed inside the beaker, note the time, observe your feed. If your feed inside the water maintains the same shape for 1.30 - 2 hrs means no problem. If your feed lost its shape within 1 hr means it also poor feed.

* Make sure to avoid the rancidity in your feed by making a proper storage room.

First see the presence of ingredients in your feed. Smell, taste and feel the quality by hand, and go for selection. These are the some of methods for physical evaluation of feed. 

     Many companies use more attractants. If you put the feed in water and wait for 30 minutes. Then observe the colour of the feed whether it is bright or dull. If it is dull means, your feed have more attractants. If it normal colour means, your feed have optimum attractants or less attractants.

       Other evaluation methods also available.

My opinion for the farmers...

     If you able to read means, then make a knowledge about ingredients and study about that ingredients in your feed bag. 

For more info contact me......... Thank you 😊.

Effect of Bleaching in shrimp farming.

Hello everyone:

         Today we will see the effects of Bleaching in shrimp pond.

In shrimp farming, we use different source of water like bore, creek, well, sea water. Whatever it is, we will go for bleaching as a disinfectant. Based on the source , the percentage of Bleaching varies.

What the bleaching powder contains?

           It contains chlorine, it is an active reactive compound for disinfectant. Most of the bleaching powder have different percent of chlorine. Based on that we can calculate and go for bleaching.

Which time can I go for bleaching?

          If you have an treatment tanks means, you can go for bleaching on that tank. After Bleach you can pump water to growout. Bleaching can actively oxidizes the organic matter, it kills pathogens, 

Sometimes pests, it kills planktons.. so it is better to go for Bleaching before fertilization.

How it kills microorganisms?

          Chlorine compound have more electrons. So these electrons can easily replace the hydrogen ions which is present in the enzymes. By this way, it breaks the chemical bonds and change the shape of cell. It also leads to failure of multiplication of microorganism, which leads to death.

             Chlorine present in different forms like chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite.

Calcium hypochlorite dissolves in water and produces Hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion.

This Hypochlorous acid is very fast reactive compared to hypochlorite ion. But it needs certain pH for effectiveness.

At pH of below 7, there is a effective reaction of Hypochlorous acid occurs. 

         Temperature also plays important role in treatment. Certain high temperature causes fast reaction.

         you applied Bleaching in your pond, if your pond have high organic matter then you needs extra chlorine for proper disinfection.

         If your water in turbid condition, then don't go for Bleaching. First settle the water and go for Bleaching. Because, suspended solids present in the water prevents the reaction of chlorine.

    

Care :

        The person who apply Bleaching must equipped with safety clothes. Excess chlorine cause many problems to humans like skin irritation, some respiratory problems etc..

        The Bleach must be stored in absence of sunlight. Presence of UV split the chlorine molecules.

       Apply Bleach in the water with optimum pH.

 Dechlorination:

       Chlorine only reactive for few hours based on microorganisms. So we must do dechlorination. It is the process of removal of chlorine residues from water. If it present means, then it reacts with compounds present in water and produces various compounds.

        Normal aeration will decrease the chlorine residues from the water. 

        After checking the chlorine level then go for fertilization. 

Importance :

        Nowadays, disease prevention is most important one. Many of the farmers opens the farm water into any creeks without treatment. It also leads to disease outbreak. So disinfection is very important for all types of ponds in your farm. 

For more info contact........ Thank you 😊.

Some of feeding strategies for shrimp growout.

Hello everyone:

         We will see some of important strategies for feeding.

Feeding based on body weight.

       It is better to go for feeding based on the average body weight of your shrimp. If your shrimp have 10 gram weight and you go for 3% of the body weight which means 0.35 gram you have to give to your shrimp. First observe the average daily growth and weight by sampling. By this you fix the day feed by the biomass and go for feeding with the help of check tray. 

My suggestion:

        If you are culturing with high stocking density means, the feed and wastes are always high. So properly use the aerators for sludge accumulation at the centre. Properly use probiotics to your pond. It is better to avoid feeding at centre of the pond.

      If you feed to the centre of the pond means, the animal will disturbs the sludge at the time of taking feed. It leads to release of toxic gas like hydrogen sulfide. 

       It is better to maintain the dissolved oxygen level at more than 3.5 or 4 ppm at the centre of the pond. Try to maintain always high dissolved oxygen to the entire pond.

Different people doing different types of feeding like.

     * Using demand feeder.

     * Bundh feeding.

     * Boat feeding and also boat feeding with line.

For large sized ponds, bundh feeding are not suitable.

      It is better to make the perfect feeding regions for the pond. Always put the feeds on the same places. Don't put the feed in centre of the pond.

      In that feeding zone, we must maintain proper Dept. Depth is very important for high stocking densities.

     Use the same region for feeding.

     Equally distribute the feeds at the feeding region to avoid crowding and feed deficient and cannibalism.

      If you put in same place means, all the shrimps comes to the place and weaker shrimp can't take feed and leads to size variation.

      So fix the feeding zone and equally distribute the feeds to those zones.

Reasons for size variation :

      * Improper seed selection.

      * It may due to the disease like EHP or any other disease.

      * It may due to improper distribution of feed to the pond.

      * It may due to selection of wrong feed. Or the feed have improper nutrition balance.

     So we have to overcome this by proper feeding......  

      Check tray feeding is very important. It is very important for feeding time.

      If the temperature high means then it increases the metabolic rate of the shrimp and that time feed intake will go somewhat high.

You can observe the feed wastage by faster formation of ammonia in your pond. You can observe the feed wastage by water colour in your pond.

        Feed must be stored in proper place . It must be present in optimum room condition. We must prevent the rancidity and oxidation in feed.

For more info ...pls contact...

                      Thank you...

Biofilm function in shrimp pond.. Part - 2.

Hello everyone:

          Today we will continue some important functions of biofilm in pond.

# In some researches told, the useful nitrifying bacteria and heterotrophic bacteria are present in the biofilm. They effectively involves in the purification of water. The heterotrophic bacteria present in the biofilm also forms microbial proteins with highly nutritious.

# All essential nutrients like protein, lipid , vitamins are present in the organism which is present in the biofilm

# Another intresting facts by research is......

         The nitrifying bacteria present in the substratum ( biofilm) is doing good nitrification process compares to the bacteria suspended in the water.. It is a very intresting facts.

# Turbidity causes various problems in shrimp pond. I already mentioned in one of my post about molting. In molting time, shrimp doing some things like hiding and also creates Turbidity. So depth maintenance is important. This biofilm also reduces Turbidity in your pond water.

 

# The beneficial microorganisms in the biofilm plays major role in preventing the growth of pathogenic bacteria in your pond.

# Many farmers successfully doing with the use of biodegradable substrates like paddy straws etc...

      Many researches told the fast and good survival present in the shrimp pond when you going high stocking density.

It is naturally forms in your pond. But what preference we give is the matter.. These are very useful when high organic load occuring. It is best in nursery system of fishes and shrimp.

All essential fatty acids also present in that biofilm. Fatty acids are very important for the growth of fish or shrimp.

These are the some of the things about biofilm in your pond. Follow my page for more info...

   

Thank you😊.

Importance of biofilm formation in shrimp culture... Part 1

Hello everyone:

         Today we will see some interesting topic about biofilm formation and uses in shrimp culture...

         In Aquaculture, we using different artificial pellet feeds.. only very few of people are culturing with natural productivity.. we always stock in high stocking density. Minimum duration of time, we have to harvest. So we give more feeds and leads to change in water quality.

Biofilm function in shrimp pond..

        Before stocking, all are applying fermented juice. I already clearly posted about this. At that time we continually runs the aerator.. we do chain dragging for proper mixing of nutrients and also make the soil strengthen. 

        Biofilm consists of different organism like microalgae, different beneficial bacterial colonies, protozoans... These all are very rich in nutrients. They have growth promoting substances, many bioactive compounds, antibiotics compounds... These all are present in the biofilm.

          Many researches told, there is an increased growth and survival of species which is cultured with substratum of biofilm in pond.

How biofilm formed in water...

         Generally it is formed on any living or non living substrates. Keep in mind, biofilm is a group of several organisms. Mostly microbial colonies.

       Example : In our body also biofilm present. Under the armpit. The smell also caused by bacteria. They formed in a group called biofilm.

        In aquatic environment, the organic substances present. If organic matter present means then small microbial colonies formed on the surface.. then they reproduce and produces extracellular polymeric substances into their environment.They forms one matrix , within the matrix all other organism like microalgae, protozoa are present..

         Biofilm can formed on the submerged soil, or any other artificial substrates which is present in the pond.

          The matrix present in the biofilm also serve as a shelter for them.. they need nutrients for the growth..Many researches told, they play very important role in the maintaining water quality in shrimp pond. Under High stocking densities, so much of ammonia is produced, at that time biofilm plays very important role in converting these toxic nitrogenous wastes...

         The structure and size of biofilm is fully depends on nutrients availability in pond.

Many other interesting facts about biofilm in shrimp pond will be posted tomorrow....

The key role in ammonia control, how inhibits harmful pathogens I'm aquatic ecosystem, presence of substrates in water...

All topics will be posted tomorrow.

Thank you 😊.

Important criteria should be followed in shrimp farm for success crop......(Importance of nursery )

Hello everyone:

           Today we will see the important criteria should be followed for better farming activity.....

If you have shrimp farm, then you must follow these things...

Remember : We are not cultivating fishes, we are cultivating shrimp, comparing to fishes, shrimp can't have such better immune system. So the maintenance must be neat....

1. Importance of nursery maintenance in shrimp farm.

2. Tips for farming shrimp with direct stocking.

3. Seed selection with good quality.

4. How to overcome size variation in shrimp pond.

5. What are the things you have to do for better feed management.

6. How to increase feed intake for shrimp.

7. Good biosecurity.

8. Water quality management.

9. Importance of sampling at regular intervals.

10. What are the things, the feed boys must know.

..........

       If you got any failure crop, don't worry.... First relax and analyse the all the things happened throughout the culture.... Write step by step.. point the mistake... Next time cut the source, not only that mistake and also all other mistakes may have possibilities for happening..

Importance of nursery in shrimp pond..

         Nowadays, Most of the farmers are doing nursery for the shrimp... It is very good and it is very important...

        Maintenance of nursery have many benefits in shrimp pond..

        Nowadays, disease are major threat to the farmers.

       First, you can increase the crop cycle by maintaining nursery in your farm..

        You can reduce culture days. By maintaining nursery, you can get good marketable size in short duration.

         You can get good quality and strong seed by maintaining nursery in your farm.

        In nursery, you stocked in high stocking densities only, at that time the growth was stunted. When you shift to growout, then the growth rate is very good.

       I already mentioned, sometimes EHP is not detectable at earlier stages, so if you are maintaining nursery, then you can prevent the disease before shifting.

       Not only EHP but also other possible infection also.

        You can shift same sized seed to the growout pond from nursery. By this you can overcome size variation atleast maximum.

        Nursery is important for everyone for checking the seed quality.  

        If anyone wrongly selected the seed and put in growout pond, if any problems in the seed we can't do anything.. all the pond preparation investment are going waste. If you are maintaining the nursery.. you can avoid those things... 

          For more info contact me .. and follow my page.

Think it.... Do it..... Thank you 😊...

             

         

         

Running mortality syndrome in vannamei farming....

Hello everyone:

         Everyone heard about Running mortality syndrome in vannamei farming. Use of chemicals, under high stocking density, improper environment management leads to occurance of new disease in shrimp farming. 

Difference between syndrome and disease:

          All are confusing, why we tell syndrome and tell disease. 

    Disease - from known pathogen. We can tell this disease is caused by this pathogen.

    Syndrome - we tell syndrome, when we don't know the proper causative agent for the infection. You can see occurance of group of symptoms. 

Running mortality syndrome:

      It is also one type of syndrome. Till we can't tell the proper reason for occurance of this syndrome. After stocking of shrimp, it dies daily from 30 or 40 th DOC. Daily death occurs and leads to very poor survival at the end of the culture. It leads to early harvest of the culture.

      From the histopathological analysis of various studies told , there is a presence of high B cells in hepatopancreas at early stage of shrimp death. 

       Red pigmentation occured at the hepatopancreas of the shrimp at earlier stage.

        After some days, the hepatopancreas turns reddish yellow in colour. Body colour also changed into reddish colour.

B cells :

      Hepatopancreas is the main organ in shrimp doing all of the functions from digestion to absorption of nutrients. It Involves in secretion of enzymes and various activities. It consists of four different types of cells called E, R, B, F cells. Among these cells, B cells doing major function in producing digestive enzymes and involve in metabolic activity. 

       RMS affected shrimp have high B cells in their haemolymph. It denotes that overfeeding is also one of the reason for that syndrome. If we give overfeed, then it affects the water quality and also increase hepatopancreas function especially B cells function, in the shrimp body. At that time the cells in the hepatopancreas may be affected. 

Vibrio:

         RMS affected shrimp shows negative for all types viral disease. But, the most common bacteria present in affected shrimp is vibrio. It is an opportunistic pathogen. If the shrimp in stress condition, then the shrimp immune system gets affected. At that time vibrio can easily affect the shrimp. Any abnormal water quality management, high stocking densities will causes stress to the shrimp.

Symptoms:

            Daily mortalities will come after 30 th DOC. Some time it may vary based on the condition of pond.

            Dead shrimp shows red colour in hepatopancreas region. Red colour also present in the Uropod of the shrimp.

            shrimp has white musculature on 2-4 th segment of the body.

            Sometimes, Sloughing of cells in body leads to release of white or yellow fecal matter.

            Improper feed taken, daily mortality.

            Antennae cut also occured.

Some of the reasons for the occurance:

             From the studies, they mentioned the RMS affected shrimp pond have improper water quality.

             RMS affected farm have high stocking densities than normal.

            RMS affected shrimp shows low amount of minerals in the body, compared to unaffected shrimp.

             Improper functioning of hepatopancreas cells due to overfeeding.

            Presence of stress and vibrio in the pond.

            Presence of turbidity also one of the reason for the occurance of Running mortality syndrome.

How to prevent :

           Maintain stress free environment for shrimp. Maintain optimum water quality like Ammonia , nitrite , H2S in shrimp pond. Partial exchange of water when you feel bad.

              Maintain turbid free water. Because excess turbidity also leads to cause stress to the shrimp. If turbid particles clog the gills of shrimp, then it also cause trouble and stress to the shrimp during respiration.

            Maintain optimum stocking density for the culture.

            Frequent use of probiotics to the pond to prevent harmful microorganisms in the pond.

             Proper feeding, based on the body weight. 

             Optimum maintenance of minerals ratio in the pond is good for culture.

These are the some of the reasons for the occurance of Running mortality syndrome in shrimp pond.Good pond maintenance will leads to good culture. 

                                Thank you 😊.

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Common Problems faced during shrimp farming. Questions are always welcome......

Hello shrimp farmers:

          First I would like to thank to the farmers who contacting me. I hope my answers definitely helps them for better farming activity...

          I thank to people who visited and share my blogs. I am happy to share, my blog reached more than 6 thousand viewers from 40 different countries...

Questions are always welcome.....

            Many Farmers are asked many doubts regarding varies topics... Another interesting thing is, now farmers are very interested for learning about shrimp farming..

            I request to the people, pls make an comment of your,

1. Doubts regarding shrimp farming.

2. Major problems faced during the culture.

3. I will tell Max from my knowledge.

You can post by comment or send me an Email. I will clarify your doubts at extent from my knowledge.

Pls follow and share by blog page. 

Pls comment or mail your questions.

* Mention the important problem you are faced during the culture.

     

                                  Thank you 😊.